# US 9,435,818 B2 · Sample transport systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,818 B2 - Document ID: US9435818B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/548,844 - Filed: 2012-07-13 - Published: 2013-01-24 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-22 - Assignees: Roche Diagnostics Hematology, Inc. - Applicants: Brian J. McKeen; Eric D. Yeaton; James L. Dowling - Inventors: Brian J. McKeen; Eric D. Yeaton; James L. Dowling - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435818B2 ## CPC - G01N 35/04: Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)} - G01N 1/31: Apparatus therefor - G01N 35/00029: {provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides (G01N35/028 takes precedence)} - G01N 35/0099: {comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J)} - G01N 35/02: using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations {(G01N35/0098 and G01N35/0099 take precedence)} - G01N 2035/00039: {Transport arrangements specific to flat sample substrates, e.g. pusher blade} - G01N 2035/041: {lifting items out of a rack for access} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract Sample transport systems are described that move a sample carrier from one station to a next station in a sample processing systems. The systems include: a translating member; two or more sample carrier retaining devices attached to the translating member, wherein each of the two or more sample carrier retaining devices can include a retainer portion to temporarily retain one or more sample carriers; and a movement mechanism to move the translating member and the attached sample carrier retaining devices between a first position and a second position; wherein the sample carrier retaining devices are controlled and moved simultaneously to retain a sample carrier when the translating member reaches the first position and to release a sample carrier when the translating member reaches the second position to successively advance sample carriers in the sample processing systems. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sample transport system that moves a sample carrier from one station to a next station in a sample processing system, the sample transport system comprising: a translating member; two or more sample carrier retaining devices attached to the translating member at a fixed, equal spacing between adjacent sample carrier retaining devices, wherein each of the two or more sample carrier retaining devices comprises a retainer portion to temporarily retain one or more sample carriers; and a movement mechanism connected to the translating member to move the translating member and the attached sample carrier retaining devices back and forth between a first position and a second position, wherein the sample carrier retaining devices are all moved and controlled simultaneously to enable each respective retainer portion to contact and retain a sample carrier when the translating member reaches the first position and to release a sample carrier when the translating member reaches the second position, such that as the translating member moves back and forth between the first position and the second position, sample carriers are advanced successively from one station to a next station in the sample processing system; and wherein the movement mechanism moves all sample carrier retaining devices vertically and horizontally between a first position and a second position and rotates a subset of the sample carrier retaining devices so that one or more sample carriers are positioned in a proper orientation at the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises an electric motor and leadscrew. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism comprises pneumatic or magnetic linear actuator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the retainer portions comprise a vacuum cup, an adhesive material, an electromagnet, or a mechanical device configured to hold a sample carrier. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism rotates each member of the subset of the sample carrier retaining devices about an axis that extends through the member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sample carrier comprises one or more of a metal, glass, ceramic, or plastic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the sample carrier is a glass slide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sample processing system comprises six stations and the sample transport system comprises five sample carrier retaining devices. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the sample processing system comprises: a slide magazine to provide empty sample carriers; a sample applicator configured to apply an aliquot of a sample to sample carriers; a sample stainer configured to apply one or more stains to samples on sample carriers; a low magnification imaging station to image at least a portion of samples on sample carriers; a high magnification imaging station to image a portion of samples on sample carriers; and a slide output station, wherein the sample transport system comprises five sample carrier retaining devices that successively advance sample carriers from one station to a next station in the sample processing system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a device to lift and lower the translating member to simultaneously lift and lower all attached sample carrier retaining devices. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the device to lift and lower the translating member comprises a member that travels along a profiled aperture within a horizontal beam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sample carrier retaining devices is moved and controlled by the translating member to transport the sample carrier to a specific station in a proper orientation to retain or release the sample carrier at the specific station. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the proper orientation of the sample carrier is achieved by rotating at least the retainer portion as the sample carrier retaining device moves towards the specific station. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the proper orientation of the sample carrier is achieved by rotating at least the sample retainer portion horizontally to a specific angle from 90 to 180 degrees. ### Claim 15 A method of transporting a sample on a sample carrier from one station to a next station in a sample processing system, the method comprising: obtaining a translating member that moves back and forth between a first position and a second position, wherein two or more sample carrier retaining devices are attached to the translating member at a fixed, equal spacing between adjacent sample carrier retaining devices; using a movement mechanism to move the translating member into the first position such that the sample carrier retaining devices are all moved and controlled simultaneously to contact and retain a sample carrier at a station; and using the movement mechanism to move the translating member into the second position such that the sample carrier retaining devices are all moved and controlled simultaneously to release a sample carrier at a station, wherein sample carriers are advanced successively from one station to a next station in the sample processing system; and wherein using the movement mechanism to move the translating member into the first and second positions moves all sample carrier retaining devices vertically and horizontally between a first position and a second position and rotates a subset of the sample carrier retaining devices so that one or more sample carriers are positioned in a proper orientation at the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein moving the translating member between the first position and the second position comprises using an electric motor and a leadscrew of the movement mechanism to move the translating member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein moving the translating member between the first position and the second position comprises using a pneumatic or magnetic linear actuator of the movement mechanism to move the translating member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein moving the translating member comprises raising the translating member to remove a sample carrier from a station and lowering the translating member to place a sample carrier onto the next successive station. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the sample carrier retaining devices each include a retainer portion comprising a vacuum cup, an adhesive material, an electromagnet, or a mechanical device configured to hold a sample carrier. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising moving at least one of the two or more sample carrier retaining devices from a last successive station to a sample output mechanism. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein using the movement mechanism to move the translating member into the first and second positions rotates each member of the subset of the sample carrier retaining devices about an axis that extends through the member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein each sample carrier is provided to the next successive station in a proper orientation associated with the next successive station. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the sample comprises a body fluid. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the body fluid is blood. ### Claim 25 A sample transport system that moves a sample carrier from one station to a next station in a sample processing system, the sample transport system comprising: a translating member; two or more sample carrier retaining devices attached to the translating member at a fixed, equal spacing between adjacent sample carrier retaining devices, wherein each of the two or more sample carrier retaining devices comprises a retainer portion to temporarily retain a different sample carrier by contacting the sample carrier only on a surface of the sample carrier on which a sample is deposited; and a movement mechanism connected to the translating member and configured to: move the translating member and the attached sample carrier retaining devices back and forth horizontally and vertically between a first position and a second position; and rotate a subset of the sample carrier retaining devices so that one or more sample carriers are positioned in a proper orientation at the second position.